Amen Thompson

Draft Notes

Amen (along with his twin brother Ausar) is a high level prospect with elite level athleticism who has taken an alternative route to the NBA, playing in the Overtime Elite league instead of college. This complicates his evaluation a bit but it’s still clear that he’s a first round talent with lottery potential.

Amen has great size for a combo guard, a crazy quick first step and explosive athleticism. He also has a high level feel for the game and is a great passer (who sometimes tries to do too much but plays an unselfish game and loves to find teammates).

For all his ball skills and passing ability the thing that stands out most about Amen is his ability to fly through the air effortlessly and play with his head at the rim. He’s got long arms and bounce and it can look like he’s playing on a 9-foot hoop. He also has tight handles and can break down defenders with the dribble, using his quick first step to get in the lane.

He has a lot of room for improvement as a jump shooter and this swing skill will determine if he’s an elite NBA player or just a solid NBA player. His 3pt shooting is a work in progress and he struggles from the FT line.

It would have been nice to see him play in the more structured and competitive landscape of a high major NCAA program but at the end of the day this shouldn’t do much to affect his draft stock.

Comparisons

• NA

Draft Projection

lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft

2023 SG Rankings

1. Nick Smith – 6-4 – Arkansas
2. Keyonte George – 6-5 – Baylor
3. Marcus Sasser – 6-2 – Houston
4. Ausar Thompson – 6-6 – Overtime Elite
5. Terquavion Smith – 6-4 – NC State
6. Ricky Council IV – 6-6 – Arkansas
7. Amari Bailey – 6-4 – UCLA
8. Sidy Cissoko – 6-7 – G League Ignite (France)
9. Nikola Durišić – 6-8 – Serbia
10. Harrison Ingram – 6-8 – Stanford
11. Mojave King – 6-5 – Ignite (Australia)
12. Caleb Love – 6-3 – UNC
13. Hunter Sallis – 6-4 – Gonzaga
14. Jalen Warley – 6-5 – Florida State
15. Kowacie Reeves – 6-6 – Florida
16. Fedor Zugic – 6-6 – Montenegro
17. Baylor Scheierman – 6-6- Creighton
18. Dominick Harris – 6-4 – Gonzaga
19. Arterio Morris – 6-4 – Texas
20. Adam Flagler – 6-3 – Baylor
21. Allen Flanigan 6-6 – Auburn
22. Jalen Hood-Schifino – 6-5 – Indiana
23. Isiaih Mosely – 6-5 – Missouri
24. Kadary Richmond – 6-5 – Seton Hall
25. Jayson Tchicamboud – 6-5 – France
26. Davonte Davis – 6-4 – Arkansas
27. Jaylen Clark – 6-5 – UCLA
28. Justin Moore – 6-4 – Villanova
29. Isaiah Wong – 6-4 – Miami
30. Langston Love – 6-4 – Baylor
31. Josiah James – 6-6 – Tennessee
32. Adam Miller – 6-4 – LSU
33. Bryce Thompson – 6-5 – OK. State
34. Nimari Burnett – 6-3 – Alabama
35. Tamar Bates – 6-5 – Indiana
36. Justin Powell – 6-5 – Tennessee
37. Matthew Murrell – 6-4 – Mississippi
38. Micah Peavy – 6-7 – TCU
39. Joe Girard – 6-1 – Syracuse
40. Bryan Antoine – 6-5 – Radford